40 Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Journal homepage: www.zjrms.ir Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Idiopathic Tonic-Clonic Seizure Behnaz Sedighi, 1 Rostam Seifaddini, 2 Farhad Iranmanesh,* 2 Maziar Oveysi 3 1. Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2. Department of Neurology, Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 3. General Physician, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Article information Abstract Article history: Received: 23 Dec 2012 Accepted: 13 Feb 2013 Available online: 13 Aug 2013 ZJRMS 2015 Jan; 17(1): 40-42 Background: Mental disorders severely affect the quality of life of epileptic patients. Due to the lack of adequate research, in the present study we assessed psychiatric disorders in patients with idiopathic tonic-clonic seizure. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional research was conducted on 170 patients using the SCL-90-R questionnaire and the results were analyzed by t-test and χ 2 test. Results: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients was 38.8%. In order, the highest frequency belonged to obsessive compulsive, depression and interpersonal sensitivity 46.5%. Conclusion: Mental disorders are present in a high percentage of epileptic patients, which shows the need for psychological evaluation. Copyright © 2015 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Keywords: Seizure Mental Health Introduction pilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases and its tonic-clonic form is the most common and best known. Studies show that 26- 35% of patients with this complication suffer from mental disorders [1]. Studies show that the presence of some psychological disorders intensifies and even increases the chance of seizure onset [2, 3]. These disorders have a broad spectrum such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, agoraphobia, etc [4]. According to high prevalence of epilepsy (1.2-1.8% of lifetime) [5], mentioned issues about psychiatric disorders in epileptic patients, and necessity of regional studies, this research was conducted to determine the prevalence and types of psychiatric disorders in patients with idiopathic tonic-clonic seizure (ITCS). Materials and Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed through simple sampling of 170 patients with ITCS. The population, who were diagnosed to have ITCS by neurologists, was consisted of direct referrals to Shafa hospital or referrals from private offices of Kerman city. The diagnosis was confirmed through physical findings and history (no aura, no focal signs), normal MRI, CT brain scans and laboratory findings. In addition, the patients had no abnormal focal findings in EEG. Patients who seized after head trauma and patients with mental retardation (IQ below 70) were excluded. Patients who had another disease or have been taking drugs other than antiepileptic medicines (especially psychiatric drugs) and patients abusing alcohol and drug were also excluded. A demographic questionnaire was completed for each patient. Participation in the study was voluntary and the research was approved by the ethics committee of Kerman University. Sample size was determined as 170 subjects with 5% alpha, 10% beta and also, power of study was 90%. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaire, which reliability and validity was confirmed in Iran, was used to assess psychiatric disorders [6]. This test consists of 90 questions which examine 9 major psychiatric disorders. These aspects include: anxiety, hostility, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, somatization, obsessive-compulsive, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation. Scoring of this 90 questions questionnaire includes five degrees (none=0, little=1, some=2, much=3, very much=4). To determine the prevalence of each mental disorder, a cut of point equal to 2.5 or greater was used and mean scores of 2.5 or more in each dimension was considered as morbid state. The test was interpreted using the Global Severity Index (GSI). In this index, the cut of point is 1.3 [6]. To analyze the data, SPSS-17 software and descriptive statistics (mean, frequency percent, and standard deviation), and t-test and χ 2 test were used. In this study, p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results In the present research, 170 patients were evaluated whose age range was 15 to 60 years. The mean duration of suffering from epilepsy and the mean age of onset were 9.6±8.69 and 14.4±10 years, respectively. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients was 38.8%. There was any correlation between gender, age, education, family history, hospitalization history, and status history with E